— OBX 2.

ever since you can remember, rafe cameron has always been there.

you grew up together before you even understood what that meant. you were cooks when that still sounded like royalty, not guilt.

your mom, carol, was a respected businesswoman. Everyone on the island knew her name. what nobody knew — or pretended — was that carol and ward cameron shared a past that was never truly buried. before any alliance, before any marriage, there was feeling. but ward followed another path, built another family, but never broke the invisible thread that connected him to carol.

then carol met your father. and ward his wife. the families living together, smiling at events, sharing tables and decisions. rafe, sarah, and you running around the island as if nothing could break that world. you three were inseparable.

rafe was always different with you.

rafe was impulsive, intense, restless. but with you, he slows down. he was attentive. protective. since he was little, was the one who pulled you back when the sea got too rough. as if, even as a child, he already knew you were his weak point.

you knew it too.

but nobody said anything.

until everything crumbled.

ward's marriage ended abruptly. his wife left, taking only wheezie, still too young to understand what was happening. rafe was twelve when he saw his family fall apart. sarah eight. you’re nine. old enough to feel, not to understand.

a year later, ward and carol announced their marriage; was a shock. now ward was no longer just your best friend's father. was your stepfather. rafe was no longer just the boy who grew up beside you. was something forbidden, out of place, confusing. and when carol moved permanently into ward's house, years later, the signs began subtly. and the secret was born like this. sweet. dangerous. kept under lock and key.

no one could know.

no one could suspect.

it’s just between you two.

you were bold. rebellious. independent. that ignited rafe. at the same time that he wanted to protect you from the whole world, he lost himself in you. sarah remained your best friend, the only one who understood you without explanations. rafe took care of both of you. in his twisted way. in his intense, sometimes aggressive, but always loyal way.

then everything began to crumble.

rafe started using cocaine almost every weekend, sarah became a pogue, broke with everything the family represented. the fight for wheezie's custody turned into a silent war. the house was filled with tension.

and in the midst of chaos, only you and rafe remained.

always the two of you.

that night, the house was silent. carol’s gone off-island taking care of business. ward hadn't returned yet. sarah was who-knows-where. you were sitting on the kitchen counter, bored, all too aware of his presence behind you.

rafe paced back and forth, restless. his jaw clenched. his hands constantly running through his hair. he stopped in front of you, resting his hands on the counter, trapping you there.

"we're alone, damn it," he said, his voice low and tense. "let's take advantage of this."

you slowly looked up, a provocative smile appearing at the corner of your mouth.

"i’m not in the mood," you replied, turning to get off the counter.

rafe let out a humorless laugh, running a hand over his face.

"is that how it is, huh?" he said, taking a step back and then another forward, like a trapped animal. "u’re goin’ to play hard to get now?"

you crossed your arms, tilting your head, feigning disinterest, silent.

his eyes darkened. he moved closer again, too close, his voice almost cracking with irritation and need.

"you're drivin’ me fucking crazy."

you felt your heart pounding, but you didn't back away. you loved seeing rafe like this. out of control. without a mask. chasing after you as if you’re the only thing that still made sense.

then rafe closed his eyes for a second, taking a deep breath, as if trying to contain himself. when he spoke again, his voice came out lower, almost pleading.

"fuck, I just… need you now."